Wine bottle and method

ABSTRACT

An elongate wine bottle with an internal space for holding wine therein includes a hollow and cylindrical body with a closed bottom and a cylindrical neck extending to an open outer end of the wine bottle remote from the bottom. A thickness of a material from which the wine bottle is manufactured is the same over at least substantially the whole length of the wine bottle. The neck is provided along its outer surface with an external screw thread and only a single annular edge situated below the screw thread relative to the open outer end. A diameter of the circular cross-section of the body is at least substantially equal to a diameter of the circular cross-section of the neck such that the wine bottle has at least substantially one and the same bottle diameter along its whole length.

The present invention relates to an elongate wine bottle with an internal space for holding wine therein, comprising a hollow and cylindrical body with a closed bottom and a cylindrical neck extending to an open outer end of the wine bottle remote from the bottom, wherein a thickness of a material from which the wine bottle is manufactured is the same over at least substantially the whole length of the wine bottle and wherein the neck is provided along its outer surface with an external screw thread and only a single annular edge situated below the screw thread relative to the open outer end.

The invention also relates to a method for serving wine in an aircraft, comprising of storing the wine in a catering trolley configured for use in an aircraft and taking the wine out of the trolley in order to serve it to persons present in the aircraft.

The invention also relates to an apparatus for filling the elongate wine bottle with wine.

The invention further relates to a vehicle comprising an apparatus for filling the elongate wine bottle with wine.

The invention also relates to a method for filling the elongate wine bottle with wine.

The invention also relates to a packaging for distributing the elongate wine bottle.

With the rapidly increasing world population efficient use of space and means by business enterprises is of increasingly greater importance in our society today—on the one hand for the smallest possible environmental impact and on the other to be able to continue participating in highly competitive markets. This is particularly the case for airlines, which must always be looking for solutions which are more cost-effective. An important limitation here is the restricted physical space available on board aircraft. Solutions are continuously being sought for more efficient use of this space so that more passengers can be carried per flight. It is however not only the transport of the passengers which is important. On long flights the passengers also have to be provided with service, for which purpose aircraft are generally equipped with galleys, toilets and other facilities, as well as being loaded with food, beverages and other necessities. Such facilities and necessities require space, and this reduces the remaining space available on board an aircraft.

It is an object of the present invention to make more efficient use of the space on board an aircraft.

The present invention provides for this purpose a wine bottle of the type stated in the preamble with the special feature that a diameter of the circular cross-section of the body is at least substantially equal to a diameter of the circular cross-section of the neck such that the wine bottle has at least substantially one and the same bottle diameter along its whole length. A particular advantage of such a wine bottle is that a plurality of these bottles can be stacked or bunched together in compact manner for transport thereof. In other words, with the wine bottle according to the invention the number of bottles per unit volume can be increased and more efficient use can therefore be made of the limited space in an aircraft. The bottle according to the invention has a great advantage relative to known packagings for beverages, which are usually relatively unsuitable for efficient storage and serving thereof. Conventional beverages therefore generally stand on the top of a catering trolley configured for aircraft, since the upper part of this trolley is not enclosed by walls of the trolley and there is therefore more space and freedom to arrange said beverages on the upper part of the trolley. The bottles according to the present invention can conversely be placed stacked closely against each other standing upright or lying on each other in a holder in and/or on the trolley. Efficient use is hereby made of the space available on board an aircraft. It is noted that the wine bottle according to the present invention can also be used to hold other beverages or food products therein, such as alcoholic drinks, oils, spices or tea and the like.

According to a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the circular cross-section of the body is a maximum of 10% larger than the diameter of the circular cross-section of the neck. A slightly narrowing neck diameter has the advantage of enhancing controlled pouring of wine (or other beverages) from the bottle. It also provides space for arranging a cap on the neck of the bottle such that an outer surface of the cap is at least substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the body of the bottle. This particularly ensures simple and stable stacking of a plurality of wine bottles according to the present preferred embodiment, since each wine bottle can in this way rest along its whole length on an underlying wine bottle.

According to a preferred embodiment, the elongate wine bottle also comprises a cap which is provided along an inner surface with an internal screw thread corresponding to the external screw thread of the neck such that the cap can be attached to the neck by means of a screwing movement in order to close the open outer end of the wine bottle in optionally airtight manner, wherein the outer surface of the cap is at least substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the body of the wine bottle. A particular advantage of such a cap, also referred to as capsule, is that the entirety of the wine bottle with cap arranged thereon has an at least substantially perfectly cylindrical shape, whereby the wine bottle can rest along its whole length on another underlying wine bottle and can therefore be easily stacked in a stable manner on and with other wine bottles according to the present preferred embodiment. The cap is preferably a standard wine bottle screw cap, i.e. a wine bottle screw cap with an external diameter of about 28 to 29 mm, wherein the wine bottle screw cap also comprises along its periphery, directly below the external screw thread and directly above the single annular edge, a punched tear line along which the upper part of the cap can be separated from the lower part of the cap by means of tearing as a result of a rotating movement of the cap relative to the neck in order to the leave the opening of the wine bottle clear.

According to a preferred embodiment, the bottom is formed such that it forms a punt in the body, wherein a height of the punt is a maximum of 10%, preferably a maximum of 5% of the diameter of the cylindrical cross-section of the body close to the bottom. Such a punt, also referred to as a kick, has the advantage that the bottom can hereby provide sufficient resistance to the liquid pressure of the wine (or other beverage) against the inner side of the bottom of the bottle. Furthermore, the contact surface of the bottom with a support surface such as table is hereby reduced, this increasing the stability of the wine bottle when it is placed on its bottom on the support surface. A particular advantage of the relatively low punt height relative to the bottom diameter is that substantially no space is lost due to the kick, this increasing the efficiency of use of space in an aircraft.

The bottle diameter preferably lies between 25 mm and 35 mm. This diameter more preferably lies between 27 mm and 31 mm. Such bottle diameters allow lengths, and therefore volumes, of bottles which are typical for one unit of consumption of wine and other beverages. The length of the wine bottle preferably lies between 10 cm and 25 cm and the volume of the internal space of the wine bottle amounts to between 20 ml and 200 ml. The volume more preferably amounts to 20 ml, 50 ml, 100 ml or 187.5 ml. Each of these latter mentioned volumes corresponds to a standard volume of one unit of consumption of a specific beverage. Spirits are thus offered for the purpose of consumption in volumes of 20 and 50 ml, and different types of wine in volumes of 100 ml and 187.5 ml. The bottle diameter is preferably substantially equal to the diameter of a standard wine bottle screw cap, viz. about 28 to 29 mm in diameter. Such a standard cap can therefore be purchased in simple and relatively advantageous manner and a cap designed specially for the wine bottle is not required.

According to a preferred embodiment, the wine bottle is manufactured from glass. A particular advantage of a wine bottle manufactured from glass is that glass is non-porous and impermeable, so that there is no interaction between the wine (or other food product) and the glass of the bottle.

According to a preferred embodiment, the wine bottle is manufactured from plastic. An important advantage of plastic is that it has a lower specific weight than glass. Plastic is also less likely to break than glass, whereby the material of the bottle can be thinner and the bottle thereby also lighter. Lighter bottles have the subsequent advantage that transport thereof saves energy. Bottles manufactured from plastic are also safer than glass bottles because of their higher impact resistance. Plastic bottles hereby do not break, or are less likely to do so, whereby the bottles according to the present preferred embodiment are safer for the passengers on board. The wine bottle is preferably manufactured from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Inherent advantages associated with PET are that PET forms a strong barrier to the migration of gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, and has substantially no interaction with diverse beverages and solid food. The product in the wine bottle hereby remains well preserved and does not form a hazard to the health of the passengers. PET is moreover very easily recyclable, thereby reducing the environmental impact. PET is also colourless, which facilitates identification of the content of the wine bottle and therefore results in time-saving during rapid distribution of such wine bottles to consumers, such as passengers in an aircraft, when wine bottles with different content are for instance being distributed from the same holder, as is the case in an aircraft where a steward or stewardess is for instance serving red and white wine from the same trolley to a large number of passengers.

According to a preferred embodiment, the wine bottle is manufactured by means of injection moulding.

According to a preferred embodiment, the wine bottle is manufactured by means of blow moulding.

According to a preferred embodiment, the wine bottle is manufactured by means of injection stretch blow moulding, and more preferably by single stage injection stretch blow moulding. A particular advantage of injection stretch blow moulding is that, because of the biaxial stretching of the wall of the bottle during this process, the molecules connect more closely to each other whereby the wine bottle is less porous and less permeable to fluids. Another particular advantage of injection stretch blow moulding is that the strength of the material increases, whereby the wine bottle is highly suitable for filling with carbonated beverage such as champagne or other sparkling wines and the like.

The present invention further provides a method of the type stated in the preamble with the special feature that use is made of the elongate wine bottle according to any of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. A particular advantage of such a method is that a plurality of these bottles can be stacked or bunched together in compact manner for transport thereof. In other words, with the method according to the invention the number of bottles per unit volume can be increased, and more efficient use can therefore be made of the limited space in an aircraft. The bottles have a great advantage compared to known packagings for beverages, which are usually relatively unsuitable for efficient storage and serving thereof. Conventional beverages therefore generally stand on top of a catering trolley configured for aircraft, since the upper part of this trolley is not enclosed by walls of the trolley and there is therefore more space and freedom to arrange said beverages on the upper part of the trolley. With the method according to the present invention of the wine bottles can be placed stacked closely against each other standing upright or lying on each other in a holder in and/or on the trolley. Efficient use is hereby made of the space available on board an aircraft.

The present invention further provides an apparatus for filling the elongate wine bottle according to the invention with wine, comprising an elongate dosing device for introducing a predetermined quantity of wine into the wine bottle close to a bottom of the wine bottle, wherein at least a portion of the dosing device comprises an outer diameter which is smaller than a minimum inner diameter of the wine bottle and a length which is at least substantially equal to or greater than the length of the bottle so that the dosing device can reach the bottom of the wine bottle, a gas feed device for feeding a gas into the wine bottle in order to displace oxygen from the wine bottle, and a closing device for closing the wine bottle by means of a closing element for arranging on the wine bottle. The wine is preferably supplied from a tank with a volume which is greater than the volume of a standard wine bottle, such as 750 millilitre.

According to a preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a gas tank and a gas conduit, wherein the gas conduit is configured to supply the gas from the gas tank to the gas feed device. The gas is preferably a noble gas, and the noble gas is more preferably argon gas.

Particularly in the case of wine bottles of relatively small volume, as is preferably the case with a wine bottle according to the present invention, quality problems occur which result from the presence of oxygen which reacts with the wine, i.e. the wine oxidizes, or which stimulates microbial metabolism of for instance acetic acid bacteria. This is because a wine bottle according to the present invention comprises a relatively large residual volume, which is generally filled with oxygen-containing air, relative to the wine volume when compared to the average wine bottle with a volume of for instance 750 millilitre. The wine also comes into contact with oxygen during filling of the bottle. The air in the residual volume, in particular the oxygen in the residual volume, is therefore displaced according to invention by introducing a noble gas, such as argon gas, into the wine bottle by means of the gas feed device in order to create a substantially inert atmosphere in the wine bottle. The wine is preferably introduced substantially close to the bottom of the wine bottle in order to avoid air mixing with the noble gas as a result of turbulence. A particular advantage of the noble gas is that it is inert and therefore has no effect on the wine, whereby particularly the flavour as well as the aroma of the wine are preserved. In normal conditions noble gases are also colourless and odourless, whereby a consumer of the wine does not discern them and so does not find them intrusive. Argon gas is preferred to helium gas, since helium can escape through the intermolecular pores of the wine bottle. Compared to other noble gases, argon gas is also relatively inexpensive and has a higher density than air, whereby it is highly suitable for displacing air from the wine bottle.

According to a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a plurality of elongate dosing devices and/or a plurality of gas feed devices and/or a plurality of closing devices so as to respectively provide with wine and/or with gas and/or close a plurality of wine bottles simultaneously. Simultaneous filling and closing of a plurality of wine bottles increases production speed. This therefore results in a significant time-saving.

According to a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a transport device for successively transporting a plurality of wine bottles to within an operational range of each of the dosing device, the gas feed device and the closing device. The transport device preferably comprises a conveyor belt. The transport device preferably comprises wine bottle holders with a hole which is formed to substantially correspond to a lateral cross-section of a wine bottle according to the invention, wherein the wine bottle holder engages the wine bottle at a height such that it cannot tip over, so that it can be transported standing upright and with some speed and acceleration.

According to a preferred embodiment of the apparatus, at least two devices selected from the group of the dosing device, the gas feed device and the closing device are combined into one system so as to fulfil the functions of the respective devices of the system at one position in the apparatus. The dosing device and the gas feed device are preferably combined into one system in order to fill the wine bottle with gas and wine without having to transport the wine bottle, so that the least possible gas and/or wine is lost through movement of the wine bottle as a result of transport. The dosing device, the gas feed device and the closing device are preferably all combined into one system in order to fill the wine bottle with wine and gas and to close it immediately thereafter by means of the closing device. The least possible gas and/or wine will hereby be lost through movement of the wine bottle during transport thereof from, to or inside the apparatus.

The present invention further provides a vehicle comprising the apparatus according to the invention for filling the elongate wine bottle according to the invention with wine. The vehicle preferably comprises a coupling device for coupling a wine supply conduit to its outer side, and a wine throughfeed conduit on its inner side which is connected to the coupling device and which feeds wine supplied by the wine supply conduit to the apparatus for filling the elongate wine bottle with wine. Determined types of wine are subject to strict rules, such as a mandatory geographical location where the grapes have to have been cultivated and/or processed, or where the wine must have been matured and/or bottled. Providing an apparatus for filling an elongate wine bottle with wine according to the present invention at each of these locations would be a very costly investment. There is therefore a need for mobile use of this apparatus, i.e. to make this apparatus movable. Since distances between separate wine regions can be significant, the vehicle is preferably a truck or a similar vehicle suitable for covering long distances over asphalt. It is likewise possible to envisage the vehicle being a boat, aircraft, train or other type of vehicle.

The present invention also provides a method for filling the elongate wine bottle according to the invention with wine, comprising the steps of displacing oxygen from the wine bottle by means of feeding a gas, introducing wine into the wine bottle substantially close to a bottom of the wine bottle and closing the wine bottle by means of arranging a closing element on the wine bottle. The gas is preferably a noble gas. The noble gas is preferably argon gas.

The step of displacing oxygen from the wine bottle preferably takes place before the step of introducing the wine into the wine bottle in order to create a substantially wholly oxygen-free atmosphere in the wine bottle. The wine here does not come into contact with oxygen, or hardly so, during substantially the whole filling process. The gas is preferably a noble gas in order to create a substantially wholly inert atmosphere in the wine bottle. The noble gas is preferably argon gas.

The method preferably further comprises of repeating the step of displacing oxygen from the wine bottle by means of feeding a gas after introducing the wine, in order to displace a remaining volume of oxygen from the wine bottle. Oxygen which has entered a wine bottle through mixing of air with the gas during filling of the wine bottle with wine is hereby displaced in order to create a substantially wholly oxygen-free atmosphere in the wine bottle. The gas is preferably a noble gas in order to create a substantially wholly inert atmosphere in the wine bottle. The noble gas is preferably argon gas.

The present invention also provides a packaging for distributing at least one elongate wine bottle according to the invention, comprising a bottom, four side walls extending upward substantially perpendicularly from the bottom and a cover which rests in closed position on free outer ends of the side walls, wherein the bottom, side walls and cover define an interior space which provides space for the at least one elongate wine bottle, wherein the height of the packaging is substantially 32 millimetres or less, and wherein the width of the packaging is substantially 265 millimetres or less in order to allow the packaging to pass through an opening of a letterbox of standard size. The length of the packaging is preferably substantially 380 millimetres or less. The weight of the packaging including the at least one wine bottle filled with wine received therein amounts to a maximum of 2 kilograms so as to be suitable for standard letterbox delivery.

According to a preferred embodiment of the packaging, a holder is received in the interior space, wherein the holder at least substantially fills the interior space and wherein the holder comprises at least one recess with a contour which, as seen from a direction perpendicularly of the bottom, substantially corresponds to a contour of a side view of the at least one wine bottle, wherein the recess has a depth such that the at least one wine bottle can be received at least substantially in its entirety in the recess. The recess preferably comprises a portion which is shaped such that a finger of a person can be received therein in order to facilitate removal of the at least one wine bottle from the recess by the person. The holder preferably has 3, 6 or 9 of said recesses.

The present invention is further elucidated with reference to the following figures which show preferred embodiments of the elongate wine bottle according to the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the invention in any way, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows different views of an embodiment of the elongate wine bottle according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows different views of an embodiment of the elongate wine bottle with screw cap;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the side view of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show respectively an embodiment of a PET variant of an elongate wine bottle and an associated standard wine bottle screw cap;

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an apparatus for filling an elongate wine bottle according to the invention with wine;

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a closing device for closing an elongate wine bottle according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a top view of an apparatus for filling an elongate wine bottle with wine; and

FIG. 8 shows a packaging for distributing an elongate wine bottle.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an elongate wine bottle 10 with an internal space 11 for holding for instance beverages such as wine therein. Wine bottle 10 consists of a hollow and cylindrical body 12 with a closed bottom 13 and a cylindrical neck 15 extending to an open outer end or opening 14 of wine bottle 10 remote from the bottom. The thickness of the material 16 from which wine bottle 10 is manufactured is the same over at least substantially the whole length of wine bottle 10, and neck 15 is provided along its outer surface with an external screw thread 17. A single annular edge 18 situated below the screw thread relative to the open outer end is further provided on neck 15. Clearly visible is that wine bottle 10 has substantially one and the same bottle diameter along its whole length.

Elongate wine bottle 10 also comprises a cap 19 (see FIG. 2) which is provided along an inner surface with an internal screw thread corresponding to the external screw thread 17 of neck 15. The internal screw thread of cap 19 is arranged such that cap 19 can be fastened by means of a screwing movement onto neck 15 for airtight closure of opening 14 of wine bottle 10. The wine in bottle 10 hereby does not acidify and the wine therefore remains drinkable for a longer period. The outer surface of cap 19 coincides with the outer surface of body 12 of wine bottle 10, whereby the wine bottle 10 with cap 19 arranged thereon has a wholly cylindrical form. Wine bottle 10 can hereby rest along its whole length on another underlying wine bottle 10 and therefore be easily stacked in stable manner on and with other wine bottles 10. Cap 19 also has along its periphery, directly below the exterior screw thread 17 and directly above the single annular edge 18, a punched tear line 22 along which upper part 23 of cap 19 can be separated from lower part 24 of cap 19 by means of tearing as a result of a rotating movement of the cap relative to the neck in order to leave opening 14 of wine bottle 10 clear.

Bottom 13 is further shaped such that it forms a punt or kick 21 in body 12. Kick 12 has the advantage that bottom 13 can hereby provide sufficient resistance to the liquid pressure of the wine (or other beverage) against the inner side of bottom 13 of bottle 10.

A particular advantage of wine bottle 10 is that a plurality of these bottles 10 can be stacked or bunched together in compact manner for transport thereof. In other words, with wine bottle 10 the number of bottles 10 per unit volume can be increased and more efficient use can therefore be made of the possibly limited space in for instance an aircraft. Wine bottle 10 has a great advantage relative to known packagings for beverages, which are usually relatively unsuitable for efficient storage and serving thereof. Wine bottles 10 can, as stated, be placed stacked closely against each other standing upright or lying on each other in a holder. Efficient use is hereby made of space. It is noted that wine bottle 10 can also be used to hold other beverages or food products therein, such as alcoholic drinks, oils, spices or tea and the like.

Wine bottles 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 have a diameter of 29 mm, a length of 198 mm and a volume of 100 ml. The wine bottle can however be manufactured equally well in other sizes, this depending on the intended application.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show respectively a variant of elongate wine bottle 10 manufactured from PET and an associated standard wine bottle screw cap 190, wherein substantially the same features are indicated in FIG. 4A as in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B shows a standard wine bottle screw cap 190. Standard cap 190 also has along its periphery, directly below the exterior screw thread 17 of bottle 10 and directly above the single annular edge 18 of bottle 10, a punched tear line 220 along which upper part 230 of standard cap 190 can be separated from lower part 240 of standard cap 190 by means of tearing as a result of a rotating movement of cap 190 relative to neck 15 of the bottle in order to leave clear the opening 14 of wine bottle 10. A standard wine bottle screw cap 190 generally comprises a diameter of about 28 mm to 29 mm, in particular about 28.35 mm to 28.95 mm. Upper part 230 of standard cap 190 generally has a length in longitudinal direction of bottle 10 of about 13 mm to 14 mm, in particular about 13.2 mm to 13.6 mm. The overall length of the standard cap, in longitudinal direction of bottle 10, is generally about 43 mm to 45 mm, in particular 43.7 mm to 44.1 mm.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an apparatus 30 for filling an elongate wine bottle 10 according to the invention with wine. Such an apparatus comprises a gas feed device 40 for introducing an inert gas such as argon into wine bottle 10 before it is filled with wine. The gas is supplied from a gas tank 43 via a gas conduit 41 to various gas feed nozzles 42. Once bottle 10 has been substantially filled with the inert gas, it is moved to an elongate dosing device 50. Dosing device 50 has an elongate dosing nozzle 51 which can extend substantially as far as the bottom of bottle 10 in order to fill bottle 10 from the bottom thereof with wine. The wine is supplied from a wine tank 53 to dosing nozzle 51 via a wine conduit 54. Dosing device 50 is disposed on an actuator 52 which can move the dosing device substantially in vertical direction, i.e. in longitudinal direction of bottle 10. The bottle 10 is received during filling thereof in a transport holder 62 which, using a conveyor belt 61, can transport bottle 10 to, among others, dosing device 50, gas feed device 40 and closing device 70. Transport device 60 comprising conveyor belt 61 and transport holder 62 is further elucidated below.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a closing device 70 which comprises a crimping element 71 and a cap feed element 72 and a second gas feed device 73. Before cap 19 is placed on wine bottle 10, an inert gas such as argon is once again supplied substantially into the upper part of bottle 10 by means of the second gas feed device 73 in order to displace oxygen which has possibly entered the bottle during transport thereof to closing device 70. Cap feed element 72 supplies wine bottle screw caps 19, such as standard wine bottle screw caps 190, and places them on the wine-filled bottles 10. Caps 19 are then crimped firmly onto bottles 10 by crimping element 71. When bottle 10 is situated at closing device 70, it is carried in its transport holder 62 by means of a transport carousel 63. Following crimping of caps 19 onto bottles 10, these latter are made ready for distribution.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of an apparatus 30 for filling an elongate wine bottle 10 with wine. Transport device 60 ensures by means of conveyor belt 61 that bottles 10 are carried to, among others, gas feed device 40, dosing device 50 for introducing the wine into wine bottle 10, and closing device 70 for arranging cap 19 on wine bottle 10. Conveyor belt 61 is preferably a driven conveyor belt 61 so as to transport the bottles in semiautomatic or fully automatic manner. Apparatus 30 preferably comprises a plurality of gas feed devices 40 and the same number of dosing devices 50 in order to simultaneously fill a plurality of bottles 10 with gas and wine successively.

FIG. 8 shows a packaging 80 for distributing an elongate wine bottle 10. Packaging 80, preferably a box manufactured from cardboard, comprises a bottom 81 and four side walls 82 extending substantially perpendicularly from bottom 81. Packaging 80 further comprises a cover 83 which is connected to at least one of the side walls 82 or bottom 81. Bottom 81, side walls 82 and cover 83 together form an interior space 85 in which wine bottles 10 can be accommodated.

The embodiment of packaging 80 as shown in FIG. 8 comprises a cover 83 connected to a side wall 82 extending in length direction. The main part 830 of cover 83 has substantially the same length and width as bottom 81 so that its free longitudinal edges lie substantially against the four side walls 82 in the closed state of the packaging. Cover 83 further comprises three sealing flanges 831 which extend from its free longitudinal edges and which are mounted hingedly on the longitudinal edges. During closing of cover 83 the two mutually opposite flanges 831 are rotated into a position substantially perpendicularly of main part 830 of cover 83 in the direction of the inner side of cover 83 such that, when cover 83 is closed, these two mutually opposite flanges 831 are situated substantially parallel to side walls 82 in the interior of packaging 80. The third flange 831, which lies opposite side wall 82 to which cover 83 is attached, also comprises two sub-flanges 832 extending from its two short sides. When the cover is closed, third flange 831 is rotated into a position substantially perpendicularly of the main part 830 of cover 83 in the direction of the inner side of cover 83 and sub-flanges 832 are rotated into a position substantially perpendicularly of third flange 831 in length direction of the two mutually opposite flanges 831. In closed state of cover 83 the two sub-flanges 832 are situated substantially in cavities 86 in side walls 82, which side walls lie parallel to the two mutually opposite flanges 831 in order to firmly close packaging 80.

Further received in packaging 80 is a holder 84 which is situated in the internal space 85 of packaging 80. Holder 84 is configured to receive therein the wine bottles 10 to be distributed. Provided for this purpose are a plurality of, in this case six, recesses 840 with a contour which, as seen from a position perpendicularly of bottom 81, substantially corresponds to a contour of wine bottle 10 such that wine bottle 10 can be partially accommodated therein. Recess 840 is shaped in the present embodiment such that the edges thereof fit closely onto bottle 10. Bottle 10 can nevertheless be easily removed by a user by means of gripping bottle 10 at the punt or kick 21. In another embodiment recess 84 can comprise a portion which is shaped such that a finger of a person can be received therein in order to facilitate removal of wine bottle 10 from recess 840 by this person. It is noted that the packaging comprises dimensions such that it can be delivered through a standard letterbox, viz. a height of substantially 32 mm or less, a width of substantially 265 mm or less and a length of substantially 380 mm or less. Packaging 80, including the six filled wine bottles 10, also weighs two kilograms or less so as to be suitable for letterbox delivery.

The present invention is not limited to the shown embodiments, but also extends to other embodiments falling within the scope of protection of the appended claims.

Clauses

1. Elongate wine bottle with an internal space for holding wine therein, comprising

-   -   a hollow and cylindrical body with a closed bottom, and     -   a cylindrical neck extending to an open outer end of the wine         bottle remote from the bottom,     -   wherein a thickness of a material from which the wine bottle is         manufactured is the same over at least substantially the whole         length of the wine bottle, and     -   wherein the neck is provided along its outer surface with an         external screw thread and only a single annular edge situated         below the screw thread relative to the open outer end,         characterized in that         a diameter of the circular cross-section of the body is at least         substantially equal to a diameter of the circular cross-section         of the neck such that the wine bottle has at least substantially         one and the same bottle diameter along its whole length.         2. Elongate wine bottle according to clause 1, wherein the         diameter of the circular cross-section of the body is a maximum         of 10% larger than the diameter of the circular cross-section of         the neck.         3. Elongate wine bottle according to clause 1 or 2, also         comprising a cap which is provided along an inner surface with         an internal screw thread corresponding to the external screw         thread of the neck such that the cap can be attached to the neck         by means of a screwing movement in order to close the open outer         end of the wine bottle in optionally airtight manner, wherein         the outer surface of the cap is at least substantially coplanar         with the outer surface of the body of the wine bottle.         4. Elongate wine bottle according to clause 1, 2 or 3, wherein         the bottom is formed such that it forms a punt in the body,         wherein a height of the punt is a maximum of 10%, preferably a         maximum of 5% of the diameter of the cylindrical cross-section         of the body close to the bottom.         5. Elongate wine bottle according to any of the clauses 1-4,         wherein the bottle diameter lies between 25 mm and 35 mm,         preferably between 27 mm and 31 mm.         6. Elongate wine bottle according to any of the clauses 1-5,         wherein the length of the wine bottle lies between 10 cm and 25         cm and the volume of the internal space of the wine bottle         amounts to between 20 ml and 200 ml.         7. Elongate wine bottle according to any of the clauses 1-6,         wherein the wine bottle is manufactured from glass.         8. Elongate wine bottle according to any of the clauses 1-6,         wherein the wine bottle is manufactured from plastic.         9. Elongate wine bottle according to clause 8, wherein the wine         bottle is manufactured from polyethylene terephthalate (PET).         10. Elongate wine bottle according to any of the clauses 1-9,         wherein the wine bottle is manufactured by means of injection         moulding.         11. Elongate wine bottle according to any of the clauses 1-9,         wherein the wine bottle is manufactured by means of blow         moulding.         12. Elongate wine bottle according to any of the clauses 1-9,         wherein the wine bottle is manufactured by means of injection         stretch blow moulding.         13. Elongate wine bottle according to clause 12, wherein the         injection stretch blow moulding is a single-stage process.         14. Method for serving wine in an aircraft, comprising of         storing the wine in a catering trolley configured for use in an         aircraft and taking the wine out of the trolley in order to         serve it to persons present in the aircraft,         characterized in that         use is made of the elongate wine bottle according to any of the         clauses 1-9.         15. Apparatus for filling the elongate wine bottle according to         any of the clauses 1-13 with wine, comprising:     -   an elongate dosing device for introducing a predetermined         quantity of wine into the wine bottle close to a bottom of the         wine bottle, wherein at least a portion of the dosing device         comprises an outer diameter which is smaller than a minimum         inner diameter of the wine bottle and a length which is at least         substantially equal to or greater than the length of the bottle         so that the dosing device can reach the bottom of the wine         bottle;     -   a gas feed device for feeding a gas into the wine bottle in         order to displace oxygen from the wine bottle; and     -   a closing device for closing the wine bottle by means of a         closing element for arranging on the wine bottle.         16. Apparatus according to clause 15, further comprising a gas         tank and a gas conduit, wherein the gas conduit is configured to         supply the gas from the gas tank to the gas feed device.         17. Apparatus according to clause 15 or 16, wherein the gas is a         noble gas.         18. Apparatus according to clause 17, wherein the noble gas is         argon gas.         19. Apparatus according to any of the clauses 15-18, wherein the         apparatus comprises a plurality of elongate dosing devices         and/or a plurality of gas feed devices and/or a plurality of         closing devices so as to respectively provide with wine and/or         with gas and/or close a plurality of wine bottles         simultaneously.         20. Apparatus according to any of the clauses 15-19, wherein the         apparatus comprises a transport device for successively         transporting a plurality of wine bottles to within an         operational range of each of the dosing device, the gas feed         device and the closing device.         21. Apparatus according to any of the clauses 15-20, wherein at         least two devices selected from the group of the dosing device,         the gas feed device and the closing device are combined into one         system so as to fulfil the functions of the respective devices         of the system at one position in the apparatus.         22. Vehicle comprising the apparatus according to any of the         clauses 15-21 for filling the elongate wine bottle according to         any of the clauses 1-13 with wine.         23. Vehicle according to clause 22, wherein the vehicle         comprises a coupling device for coupling a wine supply conduit         to its outer side, and a wine throughfeed conduit on its inner         side which is connected to the coupling device and which feeds         wine supplied by the wine supply conduit to the apparatus for         filling the elongate wine bottle with wine.         24. Method for filling the elongate wine bottle according to any         of the clauses 1-13 with wine, comprising the steps of:     -   displacing oxygen from the wine bottle by means of feeding a         gas;     -   introducing wine into the wine bottle substantially close to a         bottom of the wine bottle; and     -   closing the wine bottle by means of arranging a closing element         on the wine bottle.         25. Method according to clause 24, wherein the step of         displacing oxygen from the wine bottle takes place before the         step of introducing the wine into the wine bottle.         26. Method according to clause 24 or 25, further comprising of:     -   repeating the step of displacing oxygen from the wine bottle by         means of feeding a gas after introducing the wine, in order to         displace a remaining volume of oxygen from the wine bottle.         27. Method according to any of the clauses 24-26, wherein the         gas is a noble gas.         28. Method according to clause 27, wherein the noble gas is         argon gas.         29. Packaging for distributing at least one elongate wine bottle         according to any of the clauses 1-13, comprising a bottom, four         side walls extending upward substantially perpendicularly from         the bottom and a cover which rests in closed position on free         outer ends of the side walls, wherein the bottom, side walls and         cover define an interior space which provides space for the at         least one elongate wine bottle, wherein the height of the         packaging is substantially 32 millimetres or less, and wherein         the width of the packaging is substantially 265 millimetres or         less in order to allow the packaging to pass through an opening         of a letterbox of standard size.         30. Packaging according to clause 29, wherein the length of the         packaging is substantially 380 millimetres or less.         31. Packaging according to clause 30, wherein the weight of the         packaging including the at least one wine bottle filled with         wine received therein amounts to a maximum of 2 kilograms so as         to be suitable for standard letterbox delivery.         32. Packaging according to any of the clauses 29-31, wherein a         holder is received in the interior space, wherein the holder at         least substantially fills the interior space and wherein the         holder comprises at least one recess with a contour which, as         seen from a direction perpendicularly of the bottom,         substantially corresponds to a contour of a side view of the at         least one wine bottle, wherein the recess has a depth such that         the at least one wine bottle can be received at least         substantially in its entirety in the recess.         33. Packaging according to clause 32, wherein the recess         comprises a portion which is shaped such that a finger of a         person can be received therein in order to facilitate removal of         the at least one wine bottle from the recess by the person.         34. Packaging according to clause 32 or 33, wherein the holder         has 3, 6 or 9 of said recesses. 

1. An elongate wine bottle with an internal space for holding wine therein, comprising: a hollow and cylindrical body with a closed bottom, and a cylindrical neck extending to an open outer end of the wine bottle remote from the bottom, wherein a thickness of a material from which the wine bottle is manufactured is the same over at least substantially the whole length of the wine bottle, wherein the neck is provided along its outer surface with an external screw thread and only a single annular edge situated below the screw thread relative to the open outer end, and wherein a diameter of the circular cross-section of the body is at least substantially equal to a diameter of the circular cross-section of the neck such that the wine bottle has at least substantially one and the same bottle diameter along its whole length.
 2. The elongate wine bottle of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the circular cross-section of the body is a maximum of 10% larger than the diameter of the circular cross-section of the neck.
 3. The elongate wine bottle of claim 1, further comprising a cap which is provided along an inner surface with an internal screw thread corresponding to the external screw thread of the neck such that the cap can be attached to the neck by means of a screwing movement in order to close the open outer end of the wine bottle in optionally airtight manner, wherein the outer surface of the cap is at least substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the body of the wine bottle.
 4. The elongate wine bottle of claim 1, wherein the bottom is formed such that it forms a punt in the body, wherein a height of the punt is a maximum of 10% of the diameter of the cylindrical cross-section of the body close to the bottom.
 5. The elongate wine bottle of claim 1, wherein the bottle diameter is between 25 mm and 35 mm.
 6. The elongate wine bottle of claim 1, wherein the length of the wine bottle is between 10 cm and 25 cm and the volume of the internal space of the wine bottle is between 20 ml and 200 ml.
 7. The elongate wine bottle of claim 1, wherein the wine bottle is manufactured from glass.
 8. The elongate wine bottle of claim 1, wherein the wine bottle is manufactured from plastic.
 9. The elongate wine bottle of claim 8, wherein the wine bottle is manufactured from polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
 10. A method for serving wine in an aircraft, comprising: storing the wine in a catering trolley configured for use in an aircraft; and taking the wine out of the trolley in order to serve it to persons present in the aircraft, wherein the wine is disposed in the elongate wine bottle of claim
 1. 